The Bonny ‘Bell’ of Scotland

0
1368
Ian Bell (left) & Terry Martin.
Ian Bell (left) & Terry Martin.

Travellers Rest Golf Group

Monday, March 12, Silky Oak – Stableford

Division 1

1st Greg Bates (14) 37pts

2nd Peter Mannion (11) 37pts

3rd Matt Badman (12) 37pts

Division 2

1st Terry Martin (24) 42pts

2nd Suresh Mehta (21) 35pts

3rd Gary Bennett (18) 35pts

Monday we made our regular visit to Silky Oak, which is a fantastic course.  Division one winner Greg Bates, an Aussie dentist with hands like a bricklayer, extracted 37 points to edge a three-way count-back and take the top prize.  Terry Martin, a giant of a man, took the honors in division two with the best score of the week, a cracking 42 points.

Tuesday, March 13, Phoenix – Stableford

Division 1

1st Ian Bell (07) 39pts

2nd Greg Bates (14) 35pts

3rd Gary Sheills (11) 34pts

Division 2

1st Richard Talbot (19) 36pts

2nd Colin Smith (17) 34pts

3rd Seamus Farrell (28) 33pts

Tuesday’s outing to Phoenix is always popular and today thirty players took on the challenge of the Mountains and Lakes nines.

Ian Bell, who hails from Scotland where the Mountains and Lakes are in abundance, was obviously inspired by his surroundings and consequently shot four over par of the stick to claim first place on the podium in the top flight.  Ian was also the only player on the day to record a ‘2’ and generously rang the bell for his fellow competitors.

Division two saw our recently retired scribe taking top honors.  Richard, obviously a lot more relaxed and less stressed by not having to write these reports, strolled around Phoenix admiring the flora and fauna and nonchalantly posted a very respectable 36 points.

Wednesday, March 14, Greenwood – Stableford

Division 1

1st John Ryan (14) 36pts

2nd Al Marumoto (10) 36pts

3rd Peter Symons (5) 35pts

Division 2

1st Ted Senior (16) 37pts

2nd Colin Smith (17) 36pts

3rd Suresh Mehta (21) 34pts

Wednesday saw the TRGG faithful head up the 36 to Greenwood and with the course playing close to 6800 yards added to windy conditions it was a challenge for most of the players.

John Ryan took the conditions in his stride and carved out 36 points to claim victory in division one.  Our resident “Father” Ted Senior, who seems to have the ball on a string lately, posted the best score of the day to claim bragging rights in division two.

Thursday, March 15, Treasure Hill – Stableford

1st Bill Reid (12) 39pts

2nd Derek Thorogood (14) 36pts

3rd Trevor Oliver (11) 33pts

On Thursday our regular outing to Green Valley was cancelled due to the course hosting a local competition so we deferred to Treasure Hills.  Only twelve players made the trip and this resulted in having only one division.  First place went to Bill Reid whose flawless front nine, in which he amassed twenty four points, was a pleasure to watch.  Unfortunately Bill left a huge anchor trench through the picturesque back nine and fell over the line with a further fifteen points.

Friday, March 16, Burapha – Stableford

Division 1

1st Jonathan Evans (6) 37pts

2nd Christian Boysen (8) 36pts

3rd Mike Rushant (12) 35pts

Division 2

1st Mr. Anders (18) 34pts

2nd Ted Senior (15) 32pts

3rd Jim Cooper (17) 32pts

Once again Friday at Burapha proved to be the most popular course by far with thirty eight players battling it out for the number one spot.  Division one winner today was Jonathan Evans, playing off single figures and with a swing to die for he posted a fine 37 points.  Mr. Anders, a newcomer to the Traveller’s Rest, took first place in division two with a respectable 34 points.

Saturday, March 17, Plutaluang – Stableford

1st Freddy Starbeck (13) 39pts

2nd Danny Ford (10) 38pts

3rd Nick Fazakerley (8) 37pts

Twenty brave and fearless men stood shoulder to shoulder as the Viking single handedly began his assault at the Navy course on Saturday.  Four hours later it was all over and the brave men of the TRGG had succumbed to the superior strength of the invader.

Freddy Starbeck “The Viking” had won by the merest of margins with 39 points!  A truce was called and the men laid down their arms.  It had been a fierce battle that could have gone either way, the women and children returned to their homes and the weary and battle scarred men headed to the Travellers Rest to feast and drink ale.